FOXBOROUGH - As of now, the Patriots enter day two of the NFL draft and are scheduled to make two picks Friday night — one at #34 and the other at the top of round three, #68 overall. I'm not going to try to forecast who will be there for that latter selection - my crystal ball is out on loan - but we know who's sitting on the board at the start of round two.
Adonai Mitchell (WR) - One of this class's more polarizing receiver prospects. Some scouts/execs saw him as the fourth-best in the class, trailing only Harrison, Nabers, and Odunze. But either those folks didn't have enough sway to convince the rest of the War Room, or those teams didn't have a glaring need at the position. Mitchell has been criticized for his effort and limited production at Texas. If you're into analytics - ummm, how shall we say it - he's not favored by the number crunchers. But when he is engaged, the 6'2" wideout can leave your jaw on the floor. Mitchell can handle press coverage and chews up cushions in a heartbeat. He's too much of a body catcher, but he shows good extension and - with work - should improve on that front. The Bills are picking at #33 and also have a need at the position.
Troy Franklin (WR) - Like Mitchell, Franklin is 6'2" but checks in at only 176 pounds. That is lean and a little scary, considering Tyquan Thornton's first two seasons in NE. Franklin also doesn't have the biggest hands, but he has been a productive player for Oregon. This past season, he led the Ducks with 14 touchdown catches and nearly 1,400 yards receiving. Despite the lack of beef, Franklin runs quite well after the catch, and, as I wrote earlier in the week, he can break some ankles with his cuts. He's not a great contested catch guy because of the lack of thickness. Still, he commands attention from a safety because of his ability to get vertical, opening up space underneath for someone like Pop or KB to work in.
Ladd McConkey (WR) - You know how I feel about McConkey. He is a terrific route runner, capable of beating defenders with quickness, precision, surprising speed, and plan. He always has a plan. He struggled with injuries this past year, and he's 185 pounds, which isn't ideal, but if he can stay healthy, he should eat targets. The issue here in New England is that the Patriots have a plethora of slot receivers, and while McConkey can do some work outside, his best comes inside. With Pop Douglas developing and K.J. Osborn, JuJu, and Bourne on the roster, this feels like a luxury this roster can't afford.
Keon Coleman (WR) - Coleman is 6'3" and can jump out of the building. He will win a majority of 50/50 balls with that catch radius and elastic arms. He aggressively attacks the ball when it's in the air. But… he doesn't separate and isn't fast (4.61 40), and some scouts see him more as a big slot - at least in the red area.
Ja'Lynn Polk (WR) - Polk had received some late first-round buzz in the days leading up to the draft. That call never came, but he seems poised to go early in the second. He's 6'1 ", 203 pounds, and runs a 4.51 40, a little slower than you'd be looking for. But Polk finished with over 1,100 yards receiving for Washington, scoring nine TDs. He'll have to improve versus press coverage and isn't the most sudden receiver coming in and out of his breaks, but when the ball is up in the air, he's as good a "Go get it" guy as there is in the draft. Also likes to block, an added bonus in this day and age.,
Kingsley Suamataia (T) — At 6'5", 326 pounds, Suamataia is still growing into his body. He has huge hands and long arms to help him fend off pass rushers or lock into a defender in the run game. He was initially enrolled at Oregon, got homesick, and left for BYU, where he started last year at RT and then this year at LT. At this point in his career, he's better as a run blocker, but he does have the tools to be above-average in pass sets. He's got very nimble feet. He must improve his overall handle placement, but he is just 21.
Patrick Paul (T) - Paul is 6'7.5", 331 pounds. He is a massive, long-limbed human with big mitts (all the better to keep you from his quarterback). He's played over 2,200 collegiate snaps at Houston, all as a left tackle. He is the reverse of Suamataia, with his pass protection ahead of his run game work. Those long arms allow him to initiate contact with a defender, and if he's focused on his hand placement, he can control or stonewall the rusher's path. Paul is also agile and has good footwork. Because of his size, he sometimes struggles with his pad level and doesn't always land an effective punch, which lets the defender dictate the terms.